From w4tas at gte.net Tue Apr 6 16:34:59 2021 From: w4tas at gte.net (w4tas at gte.net) Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2021 20:34:59 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [AReU] Tonight's meeting References: <1432461263.33399.1617741299758.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1432461263.33399.1617741299758@mail.yahoo.com> I have a few interesting pieces of portable test equipment to bring to the meeting tonight.? I am continually amazed at how small and inexpensive test equipment is today.? It certainly isn't Aglient quality but more than adequate for amateur radio use.? TonyW4TAS From ka4inm at gmail.com Fri Apr 16 20:10:35 2021 From: ka4inm at gmail.com (W4BIN) Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:10:35 -0400 Subject: [AReU] RF Safety Message-ID: <4a3e8310-c7a6-dab5-3fa6-06ecda1687c8@gmail.com> Amateur Radio is basically a safe activity. In recent years, however, there has been considerable discussion and concern about the possible hazards of electromagnetic fields (EMF), including both RF energy and power frequency (50-60 Hz) EMF. FCC regulations set limits on the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) allowed from the operation of radio transmitters. Following these regulations, along with the use of good RF practices, will make your station as safe as possible. ?RF Exposure and You? is available in PDF format for free download from ARRL at, http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/RFsafetyCommittee/28RFSafety.pdf ARRL also has an RF Safety page on its website at: http://www.arrl.org/RF-exposure . The ARRL RF Safety Committee is working with the FCC to update the FCC's aids for following human exposure rules - OET Bulletin 65 and OET Bulletin 65 Supplement B for Radio Amateurs. In addition, ARRL is developing tools that all hams can use to perform exposure assessments. Amateur Radio has been exempt from the usual precautions, specifically surveying for hazardous conditions caused by our stations, but that is about to end (May the 3rd 2023) and we must create a record of our calculations. The Report and Order can be found online in PDF format at: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-126A1.pdf . "In the RF Report and Order, the Commission anticipated that few parties would have to conduct reevaluations under the new rules and that such evaluations will be relatively straightforward," the FCC said in an April 2 Public Notice. "It nevertheless adopted a 2-year period for parties to verify and ensure compliance under the new rules." The Amateur Service is no longer categorically excluded from certain aspects of the rules, as amended, and licensees can no longer avoid performing an exposure assessment simply because they are transmitting below a given power level. "For most amateurs, the major difference is the removal of the categorical exclusion for amateur radio, which means that ham station owners must determine if they either qualify for an exemption or must perform a routine environmental evaluation," said Greg Lapin, N9GL, chair of the ARRL RF Safety Committee and a member of the FCC Technological Advisory Council (TAC). "Ham stations previously excluded from performing environmental evaluations will have until May 3, 2023, to perform these. After May 3, 2021, any new stations or those modified in a way that affects RF exposure must comply before being put into service," Lapin said. The ARRL Laboratory staff is available to help amateurs to make these determinations and, if needed, perform the necessary calculations to ensure their stations comply. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, who helped prepare ARRL's RF Exposure and You book, explained it this way. "The FCC did not change any of the underlying rules applicable to amateur station evaluations," he said: "The sections of the book on how to perform routine station evaluations are still valid and usable, especially the many charts of common antennas at different heights." Hare said ARRL Lab staff also would be available to help amateurs understand the rules and evaluate their stations." A calculator can be found at: http://hintlink.com/power_density.htm You must tackle one antenna at a time, each with the same kind of information. One report for each antenna, for each band, for each power level. (if different) Look to the antenna manufacturer to supply you with gain information for each band. (web-site) Gain must be specified in dBi, convertible from other expressions. If you can pass the requirements by specifying your maximum TPO then the transmission line losses need not be investigated. On the higher bands most equipment can operate using FM modulation if so the peak power is the average power. You need consider only the highest frequency that you can operate on for each band for each maximum power level for each antenna. If each band of a multi band-antenna has the same gain on each band, only the highest frequency needs to be calculated for each maximum power level. You need to put one sheet for each of your maximum power output for each band for each antenna into a file folder with your station's record (along with a copy of your station's license) kept handy and safe. Mobile operations below a particular power level are exempt, but above that level we still must conduct a study, for each antenna, power level and frequency band. (and the records likewise kept) The distance/s is measured from the closest point of the actively powered portion of the radiating element/s to where a person could stand. When any antenna is added or moved we need to remember to update our safety calculation information. -- Ron W4BIN - Understanding is much better than knowing how.MX From w4tas at gte.net Thu Apr 29 00:27:39 2021 From: w4tas at gte.net (w4tas at gte.net) Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 04:27:39 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [AReU] Hump day net. References: <733961336.1066326.1619670459599.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <733961336.1066326.1619670459599@mail.yahoo.com> The net was sparsely populated tonight.? Although the quantity was not high, the quality was top notch.? Participants were:? W4BIM-Ron in Plant CityN4DLW-Dave in BrandonW4TAS-Tony in Brandon.? Hope to see you next Wednesday when Bob will take over his?regular duties as NCS.? Everyone have a great week.? Tony W4TAS From ka4inm at gmail.com Thu Apr 29 07:16:39 2021 From: ka4inm at gmail.com (W4BIN) Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 07:16:39 -0400 Subject: [AReU] Hump day net. In-Reply-To: <733961336.1066326.1619670459599@mail.yahoo.com> References: <733961336.1066326.1619670459599.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <733961336.1066326.1619670459599@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: w4tas at gte.net wrote: > The net was sparsely populated tonight. > Although the quantity was not high, the quality was top notch. > Participants were: > W4BIn-Ron in Plant City N4DLW-Dave in Brandon W4TAS-Tony in Brandon. > Hope to see you next Wednesday when Bob will take over his?regular duties as NCS. Tony did a fabulous job last evening. -- Ron W4BIN - Understanding is much better than knowing how.MX